I'm sorry this has taken so long! School sucked my life away so here, read this and enjoy my lovely readers! I appreciate you!
Ch 9: Who but my Blackhearted Love?
"How does he do it?" Kiku said in amazement as Tony beat the advanced level of DDR.
"Dudes got moves," Amelia said fist bumping her alien roomie as she got up to replenish her cup. "Yo you dudes want anything while I'm up?"
When they said no she just went straight for the two liter of coke in her fridge as the cell phone in her pocket started ringing.
"Hello this is America, the most kickass country on the planet speaking," she said as she answered the call while dropping two ice cubes into her cup.
"Just hurry up and get downstairs so you can let me in," Arthur's irritated voice greeted from the other line.
"Whoa Iggy? You're like actually here as in standing outside my D.C digs?" Amelia said in surprise. "What the hell dude, you could have given me some notice."
"I bloody well texted you yesterday and today when my flight took off!"
"Yeah but you said you'd be coming to see me soon. I didn't think that actually meant you ha-whatev, I'll be down in a second."
She walked through the house as Kiku and Tony continued to play video games and answered the door to find the Englishman wearing a tweed suit.
"Howdy!" Amelia greeted.
"Hello," he said with a hint of a fond smile. "It's good to see you."
"Aww thanks British dude," she said giving him quick hug before they stepped inside. "So what brings you to my sweet abode?"
"Oh nothing really, besides the world meeting tomorrow," Arthur said innocently.
"Yeah right. What's really going on?"
Kiku and Tony paused as the pair made their way to the living room.
"Hello chaps," Arthur remarked as Amelia plopped down on a red bean bag chair.
"Bugger off Limey," Tony bit out.
"Well double bugger yourself E.T!" Arthur shouted.
"Look why don't you guys go pick us up some snacks from the convenience store, I think I feel a long boring British lecture coming on," Amelia stated. "Tony wear the hoodie this time. We can't keep telling people you came from a sci-fi con."
Tony gave the thumbs up and padded off with Kiku while Arthur sat down stiffly.
"Right, I want to know what the bloody hell you're playing at with Braginsky," he remarked watching her face for a reaction.
"Oh that," Amelia laughed.
"Yes that!"
"We have alot of fun when we hang out," Amelia said with a grin.
"How can hanging out with a sociopath like Russia be fun?" Arthur shouted in exasperation. "Amelia I know you've always flouted doing things in a certain way but this is a relationship with a very dangerous person."
"You think I don't know that?" Amelia said defensively.
"You know my black magic rituals? Well nine times out of ten when I try to conjure a demon from hell I get that bloody wanker popping his head up in the middle of my pentagram. What does that say about the kind of person he is if he's summoned by the blackest of arts?"
Amelia closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"I don't know," she admitted.
"If you let him into your heart he could hurt you," Arthur stated.
"You're one to talk!" Amelia yelled angrily.
"Oh come now," Arthur said irritably.
"Forget it, just get out," Amelia demanded pointing towards the door.
Arthur sighed and stood up while she pretended to text on her phone.
"You know despite what you may think, I've only ever wanted what's best for you," he informed her.
(Section Break)
She sat outside the building where the World Conference would convene shortly, lost in her thoughts. She usually looked forward to these things and getting a chance to interact with everyone but today was different. Instead of thinking politics, she had a lot of personal thoughts weighing her down.
She sat swinging her legs as a figure approached her. She knew who it was without even looking and wished she could have avoided this for awhile longer. She was a fighter and not one to turn tail and run but it would have been nice for some more much needed reflection.
"Privyet," she said as Ivan sat down beside her.
"Hello," he greeted her taking a seat next to her.
"Look, I haven't decided what I want to do about this thing just yet," she said without looking at him. "I'd like some more time to figure it out."
"I can live with that," he remarked. "I however need no more time to know that I want you Mia."
She closed her eyes as he leaned in towards her and buried his face in her golden hair.
"I know your secret little one," he murmured, his breath warm against the shell of her ear.
"Which one?" she smirked slightly enjoying the warmth of him beside her.
"That you are pilot, and one of the few people who might be able to learn of my fondness for sunflowers from my sister," he stated smugly.
Her blue eyes widened and she turned to look into Ivan's triumphant face.
"Knowing this cleared any doubts in my mind about being with you."
"Because I dropped a crap ton of flowers on your house?" she said in amazement.
"Da."
"That's just stupid," she replied making his eyes spark.
"What did you say?"
"You know I jump the gun a lot but this is some snap judgment you're using," Amelia said standing up. "You're willing to overlook everything because of some flowers?"
"I am willing to make up my mind because I have now found that you gave me such a wonderful gift without demanding recognition or thanks; you did this simply for my benefit," he stated, standing up and towering over her.
"It was never meant to be some sweeping romantic gesture Ivan."
"Then what was it?" he demanded throwing his hands up in exasperation.
"I felt sorry for you okay? I never planned on becoming close. That part kind of happened by accident before I knew it."
"But you cannot deny that it has happened," Ivan pressed her.
"Look I like you, but that doesn't mean we should do this. I need to think about it first and decide whether or not…"
He eyed her with hard purple eyes and squeezed her hand just a little tightly.
"Say it."
"Whether or not you're worth the risk," she finished.
He stepped back with a pained look on his face.
"You're entitled to your views and reasoning. What I resent is that no one seems to acknowledge that I too have a heart."
He took Amelia's hand and pressed it to his chest for a moment, closing his eyes as he felt her skin warm him. She blinked when she felt the rapidly beating organ underneath her fingers; for as often as she had called him heartless in the past, she could feel it now, warm and alive beneath her fingers. With his brow furrowed he released her hand and started to walk away.
"It angers me to think that everyone believes that you are the only one with something to lose," he replied in a harsh tone.
He didn't wait for a reply but stalked off angrily leaving Amelia standing by herself.
(Section Break)
Amelia hung back as the meeting ended. Usually she got right up and started chatting everyone up. This time she just wanted to leave and get food.
She felt a hand rest on her shoulder and looked up in surprise to find Francis standing behind her chair.
"Amelia ma belle, did you enjoy the meeting?"
"Look dude I am really not in the mood for this right now.."
"I was hoping you would join me for dinner," Francis continued, lifting her hand to his mouth and kissing it lightly. "Arthur does not want me talking to you; if we slipped away it would make him furious."
She chuckled and stood up.
"Frenchie you just said the magic words," she smirked, grabbing his hand. "You're good at running away right? Let's book it!"
They took off in a sprint, hearing the irate shouts of a well known English voice calling after them. She laughed her head off until she caught sight of a familiar figure wearing a pink scarf. Ivan turned to see what the commotion was about and locked eyes with her for a second before they passed him. She didn't look back, her gut telling her to just keep going and blow off some steam with at least a free meal.
They found their way to a little bistro tucked away that served good French comfort food in a cozy small space.
Francis sighed, swirling the wine in his glass after Amelia placed her order.
"You are just like him, ordering every piece of meat well done."
"Yeah well it's what I was brought up on, at least after that whole fun custody battle when I was a kid," Amelia said with a testy smile.
"You are very tense, not your usual sunny self," Francis observed. "Could it perhaps have to do with a certain Russian?"
She stared at him over the water glasses, looking serious now, no trace of teasing or a smile remaining.
"I'm sure Iggy's filled you in about that," she stated.
"Actually mon petit, I realized it long before Arthur began fretting like a mother hen," he remarked. "I am the country of love, I can spot the first stirrings of affection in others the same way some people can find the finer details in a painting. I recognized it when I last spoke with Ivan, and I think you carry more than your fair share of blossoming affection for him."
Amelia nodded finally and he smiled.
"I am certain that many people will be coming to you, offering their advice on whether you should become entangled with Braginsky so I thought I would offers some perspective against whatever cautionary tale Arthur might have told you," he said.
"You two are like a couple of old ladies I swear. Definitely meant to be," she smirked.
"It is interesting that you would say that," Francis remarked. "We were at odds for most of our lives as you know."
"Yeah heard that. He sure badmouthed you enough when I was growing up," she replied.
"There was not just badmouthing cherie, but lots of heartache and blood shed as well," he stared into his drink in contemplation. "So many wasted years and we still managed to find one another in the end.."
He smiled slightly.
"I consider myself lucky that we were able to overcome so much distrust and animosity," he sighed looking at her across the table. "It makes your little squabble with Ivan look cute in comparision."
"You think the Cold War was cute?" she laughed with a dangerous glint in her blue eyes.
"Oui, when you consider how long it was. It was an intense time for you, but less than a century long. Arthur and I were enemies for centuries. I simply wanted to bring that to your attention so you would take that into consideration when it comes time for you to make a choice regarding this new love in your life."
"So just out of curiosity, are you for this thing me and him have going on?"
"Well I will not pretend that he would be my first choice," he shrugged. "But you are a grown woman and one who is entitled to find her own version of happiness."
"That was oddly deep Francis."
He chuckled.
"I am far from a stereotype Cherie. The same way that there is more to you then the Superpower with a penchant for fastfood."
"It's convenient when you're on the go," she said. "Not exactly time to sit down to a gourmet meal when you're jetting from one location to the next."
"So there is more to us countries than meets the eye it seems. Perhaps the same is true for Mother Russia as well."
"Oooh that was kind of sneaky!"
Francis merely smiled and finished his wine.
